Keshi had the opportunity of leaving honourably, says Christian Chukwu
Keshi
• Ekeji, Onigbinde support NFF’s decision
Super Eagles’ former coach, Christian Chukwu, said yesterday that sacked coach Stephen Keshi had the opportunity of leaving the position honourably when it became obvious that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) no longer needed his services.
Chukwu was among the many football people who advised Keshi to walk away from his position when it became obvious that he was hanging on to the position because of the influence of some people in the former President Goodluck Jonathan government.
Keshi was sacked on Saturday by the NFF, who accused the coach of “lacking the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.”
According to Chukwu, who said the NFF was right in sacking Keshi, “from day one, it was obvious the federation didn’t really want to work with Keshi and one could read it easily from their body language.
“Coaching job is all about hiring and firing and I hope Keshi will take it in good faith.”
Also in support of the NFF action is former Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Patrick Ekeji, who argued that the federation had no confidence in the coach and the right thing to do was to part ways in the interest of the nation.
“The NFF have done what they should have done before,” the former Green Eagles star said.
“They lost confidence in Keshi long time ago, and when you don’t have confidence in your employee, there is no way you can work together.”
“I said it before that they should take a decision on time and I am happy they have done that. They should start looking for a new coach immediately and if they already have one, he should resume without any delay.”
Also in support of Keshi’s sack is former FIFA/CAF technical committee member, Adegboye Onigbinde, who also backed the decision of the federation to appoint Shuaibu Amodu as Super Eagles’ interim coach.
However, Onigbinde advises the NFF to adhere to the contract terms they agreed with Keshi, adding, “the deed is done and there’s nothing anybody can do now about it.”
He said: “I saw it coming but it’s a good step that the NFF immediately directed Shaibu Amodu to take charge of the team in the interim. This was supposed to be a new dawn for the team and I feel they shouldn’t have made this whole thing a public affair.
“I am not privy to the terms of his contract with the NFF so I don’t know who is to blame for the way things happened.
“There must be a process in a contract called an Ouster Article/Clause that will state how a contract will be determined, otherwise if the NFF have not kept to the terms of that clause, Keshi can even take them to court. No matter how bad a person may seem to be, he will surely have sympathisers. I believe the NFF must have looked into the contract thoroughly.”
Onigbinde went don memory lane to justify the NFF’s appointment of Amodu Shaibu as interim Super Eagles’ coach.
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17 Comments
Nigerian Fans all over the world celebrates the fall of Stephen Keshi, can you please bring our wonder boy Sunday Oliseh to coach our team.
Backwardness looms.
I am watching and will laugh when all these keshi haters will start gigging in on the new helms man with some hoping to be brought back through the back door.
be that as it may. Keshi remains the best indigenous coach Nigeria has ever had and his records stand to be beaten
I agree totally with you.
thanks and God bless you!
They are now running the Nigeria football coaching like politicians who does not want to leave the stage. Amodu has been going and coming.
The fact.
we are watching but we need to know why he was sacked. Enough of guess work and hearsay. NFF please clear the air
Keshi was sacked because he lacked the ability and knowledge to create a world-class team, now we can look forward to the recruitment of Sunday Oliseh to do the job, we do not want a white man as coach as of yet.
Oliseh? Hmmmm. What has he achieved to justify the job. Name a team he had coached for us to consider.
You will not know what he will achieve if he is not giving a chance. He played the game at the highest level of professional soccer game. Sunday Oliseh played his game at Germany highest league, and Germans are known to play a highly sophisticated and highly technical game. Oliseh has the best and world acclaimed Coaching certificate, which keshi never had, finally when Keshi took Togo to their first world cup qualification, it was his first assignment as a Coach. Sunday is the man we have been waiting for, and NFF cannot bypass this most intelligent legend and former team captain of the Super Eagles.
if Oliseh is available lets give him a chance with Akpoborire, if they can not move the needle then go the expatriate way
Bring in Michael Emenalo from Chelsea.
I agree with you. Emenalo or Olise is preferable to a foreign coach.
bring in Mourinho
Chukwe is right sometimes greed makes some people to lose their senses if Keshi had listen to his instinct; he should have resigned when the ovation is loudest with great respect.
Really Onigbinde?
So no matter how bad a person May be…
Is that how you an elder is describing the many years of Steven’s service to Nigeria?
Ah….Eku ishe sir!
We will review and take appropriate action.